nd has given up since May 19. Rasmus led off the fourth with a drive off the

AMSTERDAM -- France lived up to its billing as favorite in World Cup qualifying Group A by beating the Netherlands 1-0 Monday, thanks to a long-range strike by midfielder Paul Pogba and a late save by Hugo Lloris.Sweden, meanwhile, continued to show it can play without retired superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, going level on points at the top of the group by registering its second victory in qualifying for the 2018 tournament in Russia, beating Bulgaria 3-0.European Championship runner-up France looked dangerous throughout the match at the Amsterdam Arena, with Pogba bossing the midfield and the searing pace of right back Djibril Sidibe and powerful runs of Moussa Sissoko and Kevin Gameiro proving a menace.Paul was decisive tonight, France coach Didier Deschamps said. Not just because of his goal, but also by winning the ball in midfield and distributing well.While Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg looked like he could have kept out Pogbas goal, his good saves kept the score down in the second half.Maarten knows that he would usually save that (Pogba shot) with one hand in training, Netherlands coach Danny Blind said.Both teams were coming off 4-1 victories on Friday, the Netherlands attack making up for the teams continuing defensive frailties against Belarus while France easily overcame Bulgaria as Gameiro scored his first international goals in more than five years.But the Dutch, already missing experienced stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben to injuries, suffered an early setback when Quincy Promes, who scored twice on Friday, limped off and was replaced by Memphis Depay just 16 minutes in.Without Promes pace, the Dutch rarely looked likely to break down the experienced France defense and already looks to be struggling to reach the World Cup with just one team automatically qualifying from each group.Blind said he was not ready to give up the chase for top spot in the group yet.Weve only played three out of 10 qualifiers, he said. We are only three points behind France, so it is not over yet.---NETHERLANDS 0, FRANCE 1In Amsterdam, France underscored its pedigree with an early assault on the Dutch goal, but after weathering that storm the Netherlands exerted pressure of its own, looking a far more confident team since its 4-1 victory over Belarus.But the Dutch defenses curse of giving away the ball in dangerous positions struck again in the 31st when Jeffrey Brumas loose pass was intercepted by Laurent Koscielny who quickly fed Pogba. Netherlands captain Kevin Strootman gave the Manchester United star far too much time and space and Pogba unleashed a powerful drive from 30 meters that Stekelenburg could only defledt on its way into the back of the net.Ten minutes later, the Netherlands looked to have a very strong case for a penalty that could have cancelled out Pogbas strike. Tottenham Hotspur striker Vincent Janssen twisted and turned in the penalty area before firing a low shot that Arsenal defender Koscielny slid to block, sending the ball bouncing onto his arm. Dutch players appealed in vain as referee Damir Skomina refused to give a spot kick.He could have put it on the spot, Blind said of the referee. He should have put it on the spot.As the Netherlands pressed forward in search of an equalizer in the second half, it was France who carved out the best chances.Gameiro should have doubled Frances lead in the 55th minute, skillfully controlling a long pass by Pogba, but seeing Stekelenburg block his shot.Stekelenburg then denied Pogba his second of the night, saving well after Pogba powerfully headed a Dimitri Payet corner.Hugo Lloris made a great reflex save in the 89th minute to deny Depay and the Netherlands a late equalizer and condemn the Netherlands to its first home defeat in a World Cup qualifier in 16 years.We deserved a draw, Blind said.---SWEDEN 3,, BULGARIA 0In Solna, Ola Toivonen and Oscar Hiljemark both scored late in the first half and Victor Lindelof made it 3-0 in the 58th as Bulgaria lurched to its second straight defeat.The win means France and Sweden remain the only unbeaten sides in Group A.In the nights other group match, Belarus took the lead in the 80th and Luxembourg equalized five minutes later in a 1-1 draw.Cheap New Balance Shoes From China . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Cheap New Balance Shoes Online . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. http://www.cheapnewbalance.net/ . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. New Balance Clearance Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. Cheap New Balance . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. ARLINGTON, Texas -- Toronto manager John Gibbons knew Chien-Ming Wang could help the beaten up Blue Jays pitching staff. He just didnt think it would happen this soon. Wang won for the first time in more than a year, Colby Rasmus homered for a third straight game, and the Blue Jays completed a four-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday for their fifth straight victory. The 33-year-old Wang twice won 19 games for the New York Yankees before injuries derailed his career. He hurt his right foot in 2008 and injured his right shoulder in 2009. In his second start with the Blue Jays, Wang (1-0) allowed seven hits in seven shutout innings to win for the first time since last June 12 with Washington. Toronto signed Wang last Tuesday to bolster a rotation with three starters on the disabled list. "We didnt know what to expect, to be honest with you," Gibbons said. "He was one of the best in the game with (the Yankees). We got some good reports on him, otherwise he wouldnt be here. To be honest, hes pitching better than I expected of him." Wang was 4-4 with a 2.33 ERA in nine starts this year for the Yankees Triple-A team at Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. New York released him last week at his request, and Wang signed with the Blue Jays. Wang finished his 99-pitch outing by getting Andrus to ground out to second with runners on first and third in the seventh. He struck out five and walked two. "I waited for a chance to come up to the majors," Wang said. "Toronto picked me and gave me a chance to come here and play." The Rangers lost their sixth in a row and fell to 1-6 on a season-high, 11-game homestand. Texas has dropped six straight for the first time since April 15-21, 2010. Texas manager Ron Washington said he spoke with the team after the game, but didnt divulge his message. "I thought they needed to hear from the manager," Washington said. "Were not the first team to lose six in a row and we probably wont be the last." Adam Lind hit a three-run homer, and J.P. Arencibia added a two-run shot for Toronto. The Blue Jays outscored the Rangers 24-4 to sweep a four-game series at Texas for the first time. "I keep hearing the Rangers are struggling and all that," Gibbons said.dddddddddddd "Maybe were pitching good. Maybe were playing good. I get tired of hearing that. I tip my hat to my guys." Derek Holland (5-4) allowed four runs and 10 hits in six innings for the Rangers, who have only scored eight runs in their slide. Elvis Andrus had an RBI single, and Ian Kinsler walked with the bases loaded to break up the shutout in the ninth. Texas has lost six in a row at home for the first time since a seven-game slide from July 20-Aug. 3, 2005. "I didnt sense any frustration," Texas outfielder David Murphy said. "Were past that point. Things didnt happen. With the amount of talent we have here, were very close to turning this thing around." Arencibia, who entered the series in a 3-for-41 rut, hit his second homer in three games. He lined an 0-1 pitch just over the 14-foot fence in left, a two-run shot that gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead. It was the first home run Holland has given up since May 19. Rasmus led off the fourth with a drive off the foul pole in right for his 13th homer. The Blue Jays scored four times in the seventh to extend their lead to 7-0. Jose Bautista had an RBI single, and Lind capped it with a three-run homer to right off Kyle McClellan. Lind went 7 for 17 in the series with two home runs and six RBIs. Adrian Beltre and A.J. Pierzynski had consecutive one-out singles in the fourth to put runners on first and third. The Rangers, however, couldnt take advantage of that chance. Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion made a diving catch to his right of Nelson Cruzs liner, and David Murphy popped out to left to end the threat. Texas rookie Jurickson Profar started at third base for the first time in his career. Beltre had a scheduled day off in the field and was the designated hitter. Before the game, Profar spent time on the field working with infield coach Dave Anderson. Kinsler batted third for the first time since May 22, 2011. He batted in that spot 60 times in 2010. NOTES: Texas DH Lance Berkman had a scheduled day off. ... Lind has hit safely in 17 of 19 games. ... Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland (right hamstring strain) will start a rehab assignment for Double-A Frisco on Monday night. ' ' '